Openings
Thursday, June 5: Earlier this month, the Tower Grove neighborhood welcomed Grove East Provisions, a new grocery store and specialty shop at the corner of Arsenal Street and Minnesota Avenue. Owned by Barry Kinder, Grove East Provisions offers an everyday selection of fresh fruits and veggies along with shelves of local beer and wine. Shoppers can also enjoy the cafe’s menu of various soups and sandwiches, such as their pressed club with homemade coleslaw. Since Grove East Provisions shares a kitchen with next-door neighbor Red Fox Baking, sandwiches are made with slices of fresh Red Fox bread. Other local products available include Gelateria del Leone ice cream and The Civil Life Brewing Company on draft. Open daily from 11am to 8pm and the kitchen is open from 11am to 6:30pm. 3101 Arsenal St., Tower Grove, 314.616.8527.

Image courtesy of Grove East Provisions

Wednesday, June 11: Boasting a bistro-style menu and airy interior, The Crossing at New Town has officially opened their doors at 3331 Rue Royale in St. Charles. On the menu, look for rustic French and Italian dishes, like flatbreads and crepes, featuring seasonal ingredients and sprigs of fresh herbs from The Crossing at New Town’s own garden. The restaurant also includes an outdoor wine and beer garden as well as a retail space, called The Crossing Cottage, which offers a selection of gourmet foods and gifts. Open Wednesday through Friday from 5pm to 11pm, Saturday from noon to 11pm and Sunday from noon to 10pm. 3331 Rue Royale, St. Charles, 314.606.3262.

Friday, June 13: Jumping from the Mediterranean cuisine of Nico to slow-smoked barbecue, owner Tom Schmidt announced the coming of his latest venture, Salt + Smoke BBQ, this spring. Now, smells of smoked meats waft from 6526 Delmar Blvd., where St. Louisans can dig into Texas-style ‘cue along with all of the fixings – from pit beans with smoked bacon to white cheddar cracker mac-and-cheese. Sandwiches, salads and a down-home selection of desserts round out the menu while more than two-dozen craft brews and 100 varieties of whiskey should be plenty to whet even the thirstiest cowboy’s whistle. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to close. 6526 Delmar Blvd., The Delmar Loop, 314.727.0200.

Monday, June 16: The list of food trucks continues to grow as another concept, called Finger Foodies, was welcomed to the streets of St. Louis this week. Finger Foodies focuses on fried Korean dumplings, but there are plenty of other Asian-inspired items on the menu. Check out their Oriental chicken salad or fried chicken tossed in Asian-style sauces and served on a bed of rice. Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @FingerFoodiesMO for updates on where to catch them curbside.

Fall 2014: Things are looking sweet for St. Louis’ neighbor to the west following the news that Strange Donuts will open their third location in Columbia, Missouri later this year. Strange Donuts’ unique collaborations and one-of-a-kind creations should be a hit with the college town, with plans to open up shop on Ninth Street right by Mizzou. The location should be completed by the fall, while here in St. Louis, another Strange Donuts storefront will open in Kirkwood come August.